Patrick Cohn

Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D., earned his Ph.D. in Education from the University of Virginia in 1991, specializing in sports psychology, and founded Peak Performance Sports in 1994. Dr. Cohn is an author, professional speaker and one of the nation’s leading mental game coaches. His coaching programs for young athletes instill confidence, composure and effective mental strategies that enable athletes and teams to reach their performance goals.

The Link Between Sports Kids’ Mental Game and Mental Health

Building Confidence in Athletes

The mental game is critical to sports–and improving mental health can boost both kids’ mental game and performance. That’s the word from Laura Erickson-Schroth, chief medical officer at The Jed Foundation, which works in schools and sports organizations to help kids improve their mental health. Related Articles on Kids’ Mental … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Youth Sports Coaches Can Build Resilience in Kids

Building Confidence in Athletes

Kids and teens say they lack connections with adults in their schools, says Paul Caccamo, CEO and founder, Up2Us, a coach training program. Youth coaches can fill in the gap and build resilience, improved focus and self-esteem in young athletes, he says. To meet that goal, Up2Us partners with schools … Read Sport Psychology Tip

How Nutrition Affects Sports Kids’ Focus and Performance

Building Confidence in Athletes

Studies show that when kids skip breakfast, they have a harder time focusing, are irritable and distracted by hunger. This can lead to anxiety and lower performance in sports, said Steph Magill, a registered dietitian who specializes in sports nutrition and is a sports parent to two teens. She recently was a … Read Sport Psychology Tip